Casting mold for printer&#39;s base and stereotypes



Feb. 26, 1957 w. J. HARGRAVES ETAL 2,782,469

CASTING MOLD FOR PRINTERS BASE AND STEREOTYPES Filed Aug. 31, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR.

L BY 24 2-444 Feb. 26, 1957 w. J. HARGRAVES ET AL 2,782,469

CASTING MOLD FOR PRINTERS BASE AND STEREOTYPES Filed Aug. 31, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

BY (2&2

CASTING MOLD FOR PRINTERS BASE AND STEREOTYPES Woodrow J. Hargraves and Leo A. (Ilarke, Mercedes, Tex.

Application August 31, 1953, Serial No. 377,378

1 Claim. (Cl. 22-5) This invention relates to the art of printing, and it has particular reference to apparatus for casting metal base stock for printing plates or stereotypes, often referred to as a block, from which metal furniture may also be cut, and its principal object resides in the provision of a mold which is capable of being installed in a conventional type of stereotype casting box whereby type-high castings are formed which can be utilized in portions of different dimensions as bases for cuts, stereotypes and the like, or for filling out relatively large blank spaces in the form, as well as for use as spacing units generally called spaces and quads, if desired.

A prime object of the invention is that of providing a mold by which the printer, especially in the operation of job shops and small newspaper plants, can economically provide himself with the essential base materials for electrotype or stereotype cuts or furniture pieces, by simply casting a metal type-high block of predetermined surface dimensions and sawing the material into units of the desired sizes.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a device which required no special supporting apparatus for its application and use, since the structure is designed to be operated with casting boxes of conventional design without altering such equipment, and whereby metal used in the forming of the units can be melted down and reused as often as desired.

Broadly, the invention contemplates the provision of apparatus consisting of a mold, formed of hard metal, or other suitable materials, with a suitable backing plate, by which the molten metal can be poured thereinto to form a type-high block having a smooth operative face and flutes or grooves formed in its opposite surface which define bearing legs for the base material. The mold will, therefore, afford a substantial saving in time and labor, as well as the expense of preformed and dimensioned patented base or blocks, a substantial number of the latter being required in the average printing establishment, and which must be of different shape and dimensions.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects will become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the appended drawings wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates the invention operatively associated with a conventional stereotype casting box shown in perspective in broken lines.

Figure 2 is an isometric view of the mold plate having longitudinal spaced ribs thereon.

Figure 3 fragmentarily illustrates, in transverse section, one of the ribs of the mold plate as being formed with the said plate.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view showing a rib as attached to the mold plate with screws.

Figure 5 shows, in fragmentary transverse section, another method of securing the ribs to the mold plate as by a dovetail groove and screws.

nited States Patent 0 ice Figure 6 is an isometric illustration of the mold plate attached to the supporting panel or plate by which the mold plate is supported in a vertical plane.

Figure 7 is an isometric view of the bar frame for enclosing the mold plate on the supporting panel.

Figure 8 is a front elevational view of the mold plate as when supported in a vertical plane in the casting box.

Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view, on lines 9-9 of Figure 8, of the mold plate and supporting panel, showing of the ribs in side elevation, and

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of a molded block produced by the said mold plate.

The simple arrangement provided by the structure herein described will afford apparatus by which base materials can be formed in type-high thicknesses shell cast or stereotype height, the proper height for zinc engravings, or for a base for plastic engravings. The invention also affords a device by which stereotype castings from matrices can be formed with a base instead of casting a shell to be subsequently mounted. The base materials produced by the device are properly cored to minimize their weight while providing maximum bearing surfaces, and the metals can be reprocessed when the cast units have served their purpose. The investment in such equipment as the socalled patented base, and metal furniture is materially minimized.

The invention accordingly comprises a mold plate 10 of a hard metal, such as steel which is not readily susceptible to distortions when subjected to high temperatures, and is provided with a plurality of spaced parallel ribs 11 which may be formed therewith, as shown in Figure 3, or secured by screws 12, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the latter view showing the ribs 11 as being formed with a flanged base 13 whose angular surfaces are engageable with the conforming sides of a dovetail groove 14.

The ribs 11 are rounded or have convex surfaces 15 and define channels 16 therebetween by which the legs 17 of the molded unit 18 are formed, as illustrated in Figure 10. The mold plate 10 is secured by screws 19, or other medium, to a sheet iron or sheet aluminum panel 20, as illustrated in Figures 6, 8 and 9, so that a substantial portion of the latter extends beyond the mold plate 10, the outer end of which has a right-angular flange 21 formed thereon and projecting rearwardly from the mold plate 10; the flange 21 provides a medium for hanging or suspending the mold plate 10 from the top of the casting base 22 of a conventional stereotype casting box 23, shown in broken lines in Figure 1. The mold plate 10 is thus positioned in a vertical plane.

A bar frame 24 is detachably arranged about the mold plate 10 to define a casting box, in the manner shown in Figures 8 and 9, and the depth of the frame 24 is determined by the required thickness dimension of the unit 18. As previously pointed out, the apparatus is capable of producing castings for different uses or in different heights, such as type-height, shell cast height, zinc engraving height and the required height for plastic engravings, and the stereotype face height. The frame 24 if thus made in dimensions as to depth suitable to the particular requirements.

The longitudinal side members 25 of the frame 24 have angular portions 26 formed therewith which extend horizontally over the top of the casting base 22 and over the angular flange 21 of the panel 20, as shown in Figures 1, 8 and 9. A substantially triangular tab 27 is formed with each of the opposing edges 28 of the panel 20 above the mold plate 16 and project toward the face thereof. The upper portions of the side members 25 of the frame 24 are retained by the elements 27 against the outward pressure of the molten metal poured into the box. The function of the tabs 27 is illustrated in Figure 8.

The conventional casting box 23 has a frame structure 28 in which the vertical casting base 22 is supported. The

mold face 29 is adapted to close against the base 22 and securely locked by a cam latch 30 operated by a lever 31. When the'mold plate 10, with its bar frame 24 is suspended on the top of the casting base 22, as shown in Figure l, the mold face 29 is moved toward and against the assembly and the latch 30 secured. A closed box is thus provided within the bar frame 24 so that molten metal can be deposited therein through the open top 32.

The unit 18 produced by the invention can be cut to a variety of sizes and shapes for spacing, as in the production of printed blank forms, and the like, or for ordinary base materials, and affords a product by which oddshaped cuts or base mountings for stereotype castings or zinc engraving-can be economically provided. The apparatus can be operated in both vertical and horizontal positions with equally satisfactory results.

Manifestly, the structure herein shown and described is capable of certain changes and modifications from time to time, by persons skilled in the art, Without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

In apparatus for casting type high metal blocks for printing type forms, in combination with a stereotype casting boxhaving a vertical base plate and a supporting frame therefor, a mold plate formed with a plurality of parallel spaced ribs on its operative face, the said ribs having opposite convex surfaces and defining channels therebetween, a mounting panel for said mold plate having a right-angular flange on one end extending opposite from said mold plate and providing means for supporting the latter in a vertical plane, a frame for said mold plate enclosing one end and both sides thereof and having means comprising right angular portions on its open end for supporting the same in a vertical plane on said mounting panel, and means on each side of said mounting panel for retaining said frame thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 297,023 [Smith Apr. 15, 1884 395,435 Goss Jan. 1, 1889 1,065,299 Dutton June 17, 1913 1,196,824 Toomey Sept. 5, 1916 2,581,860 Hunter Jan. 8, 1952 

